Toilet article



July 14, 1931. J. F. CONNOR 1,814,433

TOILET ARTICLE Filed Dec. 22, 1930 Patented July 14, 1931 res arrns connon, or CLEVELAND, OHIO TOILET ARTICLE Application filed December 22, 1930. 'Serial No. 504,079.

1o CQldingly, a general object of my invention is to provide a thin, compact toilet article, which is particularly adapted to be carried in a pocket, and which embodies no sliding cover member. Another object is to providea simplev combined folding brush and comb, in which the comb will form a cover member for the brush. A further object is the provision of a simple mechanism for operating the folding brush members, and 20 for lockingthe brush in either folded or extended position.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a preferred form of my invention,

,gg; reference being made to the accompanying drawings, while the essential characteris tics are summarized in the claims.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. l is a plan view, with parts broken away, showing my device with the brush folded and the comb in position in the case; Fig. 2 is an elevation partially broken away, showing the brush folded and the comb in the casing; Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but

showing the comb removed and the brush extended; Fig. 4 is a transverse section, taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section along the lines 55 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a perspective, showing one of the 4 brush units; Fig. 7 is a section taken along the lines 77 of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a similar -;ection, showing the mechanism in the po- .jition it occupies when the brush is unfolded; and Fig. 9 is a detail of the mechanism 45. shown in Figs. 7 and 8 for locking the brush in either open or closed position.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the device is contained within a shallow casing, having end walls 10 and 11, side walls 12 and 13, 50 and a bottom portion 14:, the top of the casing being open. The brush and the mechanism for folding and unfolding the brush are contained entirely within the casing, and thebrush may comprise a series of tufts of bristles 15, carriedby a series of bars 16 .(see Fig. 6) each of which is provided with pins 17 at either end thereof, and with a crank arm 18 and a crank pin 19. The brush carrying bars may be rotatably mounted within the casing, by means of strips 20 and 21;, which may be, secured to the side walls of the casing, in any desired manner. These strips are provided with a rowof oppositely disposed openings, which are adapted to engage the pins 17, as indicated at 22 and 2 3, in Fig. 5. It will be seen that rotation of the bars in a clockwise direction, as shown in the drawings, will re: sun in the movement of the tufts of bristles from the folded positionof Fig. 2 to, the

extended position of Fig. 3. In order to actuate the cranks 18, and thus oscillate the bars to raise the brushes to the extended position, a slotted strip 25 is slidably and loosely mounted in the casing, directly above the strip 21 and has slots 26 therein which are adapted to engage the crank pins 19, whereby movement of the strip 25 in a longitudinal direction will rock the bars 16, and move the bristles from folded to extended pOsi: U

through a slot in the wall 12 of the casing,

and the slot has enlarged portions 30 and 31 at the ends thereof, and a narrow intermediate portion 32. Adjacent the head of the button 28, the shank is reduced in diameter as at 33, to enable it to pass through the narrow portion of the slot, while the portion 34; of the: shank, which is adjacent the spring, is small enough to enter the, enlarged portions. 30 and 31 of the slot, but is too ar e to Pass throu h the arren PQJ lQI 3.2-v

The spring normally tends to force the button outwardly, and thus the strip is kept from movement whenever it is in either of its extreme positions. To move the strip and thereby to fold or extend the brush, the button is pressed inwardly, as shown in Fig. 8, in which position thenarrow portion of the shank of the button will be in registration with the slot and thus the button and the bar can be moved in the desired direction.

My invention contemplates the use of a comb for a brush cover and casing closure when the brush is in the folded position. To this end, I utilize a comb 35, which is substantially of the same size as the internal dimensions of the casing, so that it may fit snugly therein when the brush is not in use. If desired, the dimensions of the comb and casing may be so related that the comb will be held in place merely by frictional engagement with the walls of the casing, or at least with the end walls thereof. In some cases, however, it may be desirable to utilize a more positive means for holding the comb in position, and to this end, I have shown an overhanging lip 40 that extends inwardly from the end wall 11 of the casing and is adapted to overlie the ends of the comb, as is shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2. The opposite end of the casing may have a finger nail opening 41 and the corners of the walls adjacent the opening may be bent inwardly a slight amount, as at 42, so as to increase the degree of frictional engagement between the wall and the end of the comb. Such degree of engagement is sufiicient for all practical purposes to hold the comb securely in position when the brush is folded. If desired, a stop 48 may be utilized for preventing any loose play between the comb and bristles when the comb is in place within the casing.

An advantage of my invention is that I have provided a simple and compact arrangement for a combined comb and brush holder. Furthermore, by eliminating the necessity for a cover, I provide adequate Ventilation for the brush and greatly reduce the complexity of the casing construction that heretofore was regarded as necessary for devices of this character.

I claim: I

1. In a toilet article, a casing, open at the top, a folding brush disposed within the easing and adapted to lie entirely within the casing when in folded position, and to extend through the top of the casing when in open position, and a comb adapted to overlie the brush and having substantially the same length and width as the interior of the casing and being adapted to provide a closure for the casing.

2. In a toilet article, a container, open at the top, a folding brush disposed within the container and adapted to lie entirely within the container when in folded position and to project from the container when in extended position, a comb adapted to fit 1nto the container and provide a cover for the brush, and means for holding the comb in place within the container.

3. A combined brush and comb carrier comprising in combination a casing open at the top, a foldable brush thereln, a comb adapted to overlie the brush and to provide a closure for the casing, the external dimensions of the comb being substantially equal to the internal longitudinal dimension of the casing whereby the comb may fit snugly within the casing and be held therein by frictional engagement therewith.

4. A combined comb and brush carrier comprising in combination a casing open at the top, a foldable brush therein and a comb adapted to overlie the brush and to prov de a closure for the casing, said comb having a length substantially equal to the internal dimensions of the casing, and sald cas ng having an inwardly extending overhanging lip at one end thereof adapted to overhang one end of the comb, and having a finger nail opening at the other end thereof, the portion of the casing adjacent the finger nail opening being bent inwardly so as to increase the degree of frictional engagement between the casing and the comb.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

JAMES F. CONNOR. 

